About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the driver, which I tested for 5 days in June of 2021.

My take

I had high hopes for the Callaway Epic Max Driver and it did not let me down. When the original Callaway GBB Epic driver came out I picked it up and fell in love. This second generation is also great. The Epic Max driver is suitable for a wide variety of playing levels but mainly fits mid-to-high handicappers because it is not quite as workable as a low handicapper might prefer.

About the club I tested

• Model: 2021 Callaway Epic Max Driver
• Loft setting: 10.5 degrees
• Shaft type: Project X Hzrdus Green
• Shaft flex: Stiff

About me

• Average score: 74
• Handicap: 2
• Experience: 27 years of playing golf
• Right/Left-Handed: Right-handed
• Typical ball flight: Draw
• Golf ball used: TaylorMade TP5
• Club swing speed: 112 mph

Test conditions

• When I tested the club: June 2021
• Days tested: 5
• Where I’ve used it: Played three rounds of golf and used it on the range with a launch monitor
• Weather and wind conditions: Hot and windy

How it performs

What I was looking for

When I was able to test this club, I was not in the market for a new club but my best friend picked one up. He let me play a few rounds with it and test it on the range with a launch monitor. I was very excited to test this club out as the original GBB Epic was my favorite driver when it was first released.

Why I chose this club

The summer I tested this club, I also tested the TaylorMade SIM2 Max and the Cobra Radspeed drivers. I enjoy testing all the new clubs when they come out. But I was very intrigued by this club in particular due to my affection for its predecessor.

What I love about it

• Distance: This club is long, providing great ball speed and distance upon testing. The Jailbreak technology Callaway used in this driver makes the face extremely stable and produces great pop off the club.
• Forgiveness: This club is very forgiving and I was finding it hard to miss the sweet spot. The perimeter weighting and sliding weight make this club very adjustable and more forgiving.
• Feel: There is excellent feel and balance to the club while also being light and fast.
• Adjustability: This driver has a very adjustable hosel, so players can change the loft degree both quickly and easily.
• Shaft Feel: The shaft unsurprisingly feels really good as Project X makes great products.
• Shaft Performance: Shaft was really well-performing for me. It kept spin where I needed it to be, and provided straight, penetrating ball flight.
• Aesthetic Appeal: The driver looks fantastic. I am a sucker for the green and black color combination.
• Grip Feel: The grip felt good. I have no complaints with the standard Golf Pride Tour grip.
• Launch Angle: The launch angle on this club provides a great, penetrating ball flight. The adjustable hosel makes it easy for golfers to hone in on how high they want the ball to come off the club.
• Spin: The spin numbers I was getting with this driver were low and helped me get the maximum distance out of the driver.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Sound: The sound from the club is not bad, it's just not my favorite. I prefer hearing more of a “crack” off the club compared to the more dead sound this driver provides.
• Workability: The friend who let me test his Epic Max is a higher handicapper than me. I would prefer the Epic Max LS version of this club. This one was a little too forgiving and I found it harder to work the ball in different directions than I'm used to.

Best shot with this club

In one of my three rounds playing this club, I hit one of the longest drives I have ever hit on the #8 hole at Peoria Ridge Golf Club. It's a long par 5 with a creek down the right. The creek kind of creeps in and narrows the fairway around the typical landing area for drivers. On this day though, I hit a high bomb straight by it all!

Value for the money vs. other options

When this club was initially released, it was a great deal even at full price. Now that the Epic Max has been discounted, as it is a late year model club, it’s an even better buy. It hangs with the best of the best and the Jailbreak technology in the face, with the adjustable perimeter weight, make it very competitive with the Titleist TS2, the TaylorMade SIM Max, and the Cobra RadSpeed XB drivers.

Final verdict

The Callaway Epic Max Driver is fantastic for mid-to-high handicappers looking for a very forgiving driver. With this green and black color scheme, it also looks amazing. On top of that, the reduced price point is hard to beat for a driver of this quality.